25 Tips for Writing for Young Adults

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So you’re thinking you might write a novel aimed at young adults. Here’s how to avoid the most common pitfalls.

“Write what you know.”

That’s the old adage. Whether or not you buy into it, it seems like a safe way to go. If you write what you know, you’ll at least sound as if you know what you’re talking about.

And we’ve all been young, so how hard can it be to write Young Adult fiction?

You’d be surprised. I’ve read YA manuscripts written by older people who use George Clooney as a good visual for a current-day teen to fantasize about. I’ve also seen references to language that was never used in the period the manuscript is supposed to represent. (“Bummer” for Gen Z and “awesome” for the 1890s, for example. Funny. Not.)

For tips on writing YA fiction, you can’t do better than Chuck Wendig. I’ve linked to his post here, but before reading it you should know he’s NSFW (Not Safe For Work). In case anyone is looking over your shoulder.